James E. Finch, Special Agent in Charge of the Oklahoma City Field Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is providing the following public service announcement:

The public is advised there is currently a fraudulent phone and e-mail scam targeting Oklahoma utility customers. Customers have received phone calls from individuals claiming to be with the utility company’s billing department. The caller advises the customers they have a past-due balance, and if they do not provide credit card or bank account information, their service will be remotely terminated.

Customers have also received e-mails stating their bill is now available and that the amount owed is past due. The e-mail instructs customers to click on an embedded link to pay the past-due bill. The public is advised this is a fraudulent phone and e-mail phishing scam.

This type of fraudulent solicitation is not unique to utility companies, and similar scams have been attempted using banks, government agencies, and numerous other legitimate businesses. Individuals should not provide any information or click on the embedded links. Individuals who receive suspicious or unsolicited phone calls or e-mails should contact their service provider or the involved business directly to verify the validity of the request.